The National Park Service has announced the arrival of additional resources to assist in battling a wildfire burning near Hannah Mountain on the Tennessee side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The initial announcement of the fire through an Aug. 28 news release said that it was roughly 10 acres in size. The fire has since grown, and several areas remain closed due to potential fire danger.
Here’s what the new announcement said.
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Where is the fire in the Smoky Mountains?
On the evening of Aug. 26 a wildfire was reported burning near Hannah Mountain, south of Abrams Creek. As of noon on Aug. 27, the Flint Gap Fire was estimated to be about 10 acres.
According to the NPS news release from Aug. 29, the fire is now estimated to have grown to about 23 acres and is burning primarily in undergrowth in steep terrain.
Is the Smokies wildfire under control?
On Aug. 28, Tennessee National Guard continued to provide aviation support, dropping 25,000 gallons of water in total on the fire. Today, Aug. 29, a Type 3 Helicopter was set to assist, including assessment of opportunities for crews on the ground to safely access the fire.
While the fire is still burning, the news release said that no structures are currently threatened.
The Citizen Times has reached out to park personnel via phone and email.
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What’s closed in the Smoky Mountains?
No further areas of the park have been closed according to the release. The areas that remain closed are:
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Backcountry campsites 14, 15 and 16.
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Parson Branch Road.
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Rabbit Creek Trail from Abrams Creek to Cades Cove.
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Hannah Mountain Trail from Parson Branch Road to Little Bottom Trail.
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What caused the Smokies wildfire?
The Tennesse Bureau of Investigation provided a flyover on Aug. 27 to help map and monitor the fire, but the cause of the wildfire has not yet been identified, according to the Aug. 29 news release.
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Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Where is the fire in the Smoky Mountains? Update on Flint Gap Fire
